Cornell College 2016-17 Academic Catalogue 196
315. Wealth, Power, and Inequality
Emphasizes the importance of socio-economic class by exploring the meaning and measurement
of social class, how social classes are formed, and how they change. Explores issues of social
mobility, investigates the relationship between various forms of inequality (i.e., social class,
race-ethnicity, gender, sexuality) and contemplates the role of culture and social institutions,
(e.g., work, the health care system, schools, families, the political systems, etc.) in perpetuating,
legitimizing, and sometimes challenging social inequality. Prerequisite: SOC 101 or SOC 102.
Alternate years. (Social Science)
316. Culture, Meaning-Making, and Distinction in American Society
Theoretical and sociological investigation of the concept of "culture." Explores the connections
between culture, structure, and society as a whole; specifically addresses the ways that symbols,
language, and other forms of knowledge work to create meanings, constitute power, and form
the basis for understanding social life including relationships, politics, sexuality, and work.
Considers the creation and reception of culture; the relationship between culture and inequality;
issues of domination and resistance, and the connections between culture and social/historical
change. Prerequisite: SOC 101 or SOC 102 and one additional sociology course. Alternate years.
(Social Science)
317. Reproductive Practices, Reproductive Policies
This course emphasizes the social construction of female reproductive processes and how
culture and institutions shape our understandings and expectations of such processes.
Addresses a variety of reproductive practices, experiences and ideologies. Discusses ideas about
womanhood, motherhood, fatherhood, sexuality, eugenics, and reproductive freedom;
investigates historical role and effect of the state, medical institutions, and women themselves as
they struggle over, and shape such issues. The focus will be on the U.S., but we may also look at
cases from other countries in order to examine our assumptions about reproductive practices
and strategies. Prerequisite: SOC 101, SOC 102, or ANT 312. Alternate years. This course may
count toward the SOC, SAN, or GSS major. (Social Science)
343. Women: Oppressions and Resistances
Consideration of gender inequality as lived reality and locus of struggle. Topics include: cross-
cultural analysis of sexual/racial violence, including violence in war; women's resistances in civil
rights, indigenous, development and human rights struggles. Prerequisite: SOC 101, SOC 102,
ANT 101, ANT 271, EST 123, or GSS 171. Alternate years. This course may count toward the SOC,
SAN, GSS, or EST major. (Social Science)
348. Race and Ethnic Relations
Various theoretical perspectives on race and ethnic relations, focusing on the United States.
Topics include assimilation, ethnic conflict and U.S. immigration policy, the history of the civil
rights, treaty rights and migrant farm worker struggles, the social construction of race, and signs
of change in contemporary race and ethnic relations. Prerequisite: SOC 101, SOC 102, ANT 101,
or EST 123. This course may count toward the EST major. Alternate years. (Social Science)
350-360. Advanced Topics in Sociology
Selected topics of current interest in sociology. See Topics Courses. Prerequisite: SOC 101 or
102.
362. Criminal Justice
Analysis of the criminal justice system in the U.S., including consideration of the police, the